On Wednesday, an independent expert commission presented 56 recommendations to reduce the risks of social media use for young people, such as addiction, harmful content and excessive screen time. The 18-member commission was set up last September by Family Minister Karin Prien. Following the presentation, the minister welcomed the findings and signalled her support for one key proposal in particular – setting a legal minimum age of 13 for independent use of social media. She also said that while she would advocate for a national
law if necessary, she would prefer to see the introduction of Europe-wide legislation. In other words, many of the recommendations discussed below could well become law – but not overnight and possibly only after negotiations between Berlin and Brussels. Two options Unable to agree on a single approach, the experts actually presented two alternative proposals for regulating young people’s access to platforms like TikTok or Instagram. The first option is the one which Prien publicly endorsed. It sets a minimum legal age of 13 for
independent use of social media. Younger children could still access some content under the proposal, but only if it’s age-appropriate and low-risk. For teenagers between 13 and 18, additional safeguards would also apply. These include switching off risky features by default and requiring proper age verification. READ ALSO: Where are smartphones banned in primary schools in Germany? The second option is more flexible, but also more complex. Instead of a single, fixed age limit, individual platforms would be regulated based on risk – meaning that
certain features or even entire services could be restricted for younger users if they were considered harmful. The exact age limits would vary depending on each platform’s design and impact. In practice, the first option appears more likely. It would be easier to communicate and enforce, and already has the minister’s political backing. Either way the experts suggest that Germany should avoid acting alone and instead push for common EU rules, through changes to the Digital Services Act. Beyond age limits Beyond pushing age limits
for users, the experts made a number of proposals designed to shift responsibility away from children and towards tech companies. These include safer default settings for young users, including no personalised ads, no endless scrolling feeds and fewer addictive features such as automatic video playback. Schools are also set to play an important part in the overall plan. The commission recommended that private smartphone use be banned in schools across Germany up to seventh grade, including during breaks. From eighth grade onwards, schools would create
their own rules together with students. There are also proposals for better media education, including a basic AI proficiency certificate for children, more support for parents and a nationwide hotline for young people facing online abuse. READ ALSO: German Chancellor approves of social media ban for minors How do the proposals compare with measures in other countries? In Germany alone, around one million young people use online platforms in a risky way and about 300,000 show signs of addiction, according to the commission. Concerns range
from bullying and hate speech to the effects of constant scrolling on mental health. But when you look abroad, Germany’s plans seem relatively cautious. Australia already bans social media for children under 16, with similar rules in place or being introduced in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. In Europe, the United Kingdom is planning a ban for under 16s, with Austria, Norway and others working on plans that would set comparable limits.
Germany social media young people risk commission 56 recommendations Karin Prien minimum age 13 digital services act school smartphone ban media education hotline